The Raptors 905 have built a reputation on resilience and results - a team that rarely folds, even when the odds stack up. But Friday night in Long Island told a different story. Despite flashes of fight, the 905 couldn’t recover from a rough start and an even rougher finish, falling 109-93 to the Long Island Nets in a game that slipped away in the fourth quarter.
Let’s start with the spark that nearly ignited a comeback. In the third quarter, Quincy Guerrier brought some much-needed energy.
He got things going in transition and followed it up with a strong drive to the rim. But every time the 905 looked ready to make a run, the Nets had an answer.
After Guerrier’s early push, Alex Schumacher responded with an and-one. Then, even when Julian Reese battled for an offensive board and converted a three-point play to cut the deficit to 14, the Nets kept their foot on the gas.
This has been a 905 team known for grinding out wins in all kinds of ways - hustle plays, second-chance points, defensive stops. They showed glimpses of that identity in the third.
Guerrier saved a loose ball from going out of bounds to keep a transition play alive, and Tyreke Key capitalized with a strong finish over Malachi Smith. But again, the Nets answered.
Chaney Johnson drilled a three to push the lead right back to 15.
That was the theme of the night: every punch the 905 threw, Long Island countered. Olivier Sarr capped off the third with a heads-up play, diving after setting a screen and finishing the play himself. The 905 were still within reach - down 15 heading into the final frame - but what followed was a fourth quarter they'd rather forget.
Turnovers piled up - six in the fourth alone - and the 905 just couldn’t find the bottom of the net. They shot 2-of-8 from deep in the quarter, and the offense stalled.
Tyreke Key, who usually brings steady production, ran into a wall. One possession saw the ball deflected off his foot for a turnover.
Another, he couldn’t handle a clean kickout pass from Tyson Degenhart, and it bounced off his knee. Even a simple post-entry pass to Julian Reese turned into an unforced error.
By that point, the 905’s offense looked out of sync - not unlike what we saw from their parent club during that recent game against the Lakers. The zone defense gave them fits, and the shooting woes were glaring: 6-of-29 from three on the night, including a cold 3-of-15 start in the first half.
Meanwhile, the Nets were firing on all cylinders. Six players hit double figures, and Grant Nelson led the way with a dominant 20-point performance on 7-of-8 shooting. He got to the paint at will and made life miserable for the 905 defense - and honestly, for anyone watching who hoped for a tighter contest.
Still, there were some bright spots. Guerrier bounced back from a tough finish in the previous game - where he missed a potential game-tying tip-in - with 13 points and a noticeable edge to his play.
He looked like a guy determined to make up for lost moments. And then there was Tyrese Hunter, the newcomer who played like he had something to prove.
No name on the back of his jersey, but he made his presence felt - drawing a foul, knocking down a three, and trying to energize his teammates with some full-court pressure and sideline claps in the fourth quarter.
It wasn’t enough to change the outcome, but it showed the kind of spirit that’s helped this team become a perennial contender in the G League. This loss stings, no doubt - especially for a team that’s made winning feel routine. But with December’s Coach of the Month at the helm and a locker room full of players who don’t shy away from the grind, don’t expect this to derail the 905 for long.